NORRISTOWN — A homeless man who told police he sells cocaine “to make money” now calls state prison his home after he was captured in Pottstown while allegedly fleeing police on Route 422.

Timothy Andrew Smith, 31, who has no fixed address, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to two-to-four years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver cocaine in connection with the September 2011 incident in Pottstown.

Judge Joseph A. Smyth said Smith is eligible for the state’s Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive program, commonly referred to as “Triple R-I,” which allows eligible non-violent offenders to receive reductions of their minimum state prison sentences if they successfully complete all required treatment and maintain good-conduct records in prison. If successful, Smith could reduce his minimum sentence to 18 months, according to court documents.

An investigation of Smith began about 12:14 a.m. Sept. 30 when state police at Skippack observed Smith operating a Dodge Avenger erratically westbound on Route 422 near the Sanatoga exit, according to the criminal complaint. Smith, police said, moved the vehicle back and forth between lanes multiple times to pass other vehicles and police clocked the vehicle traveling 110 miles per hour in a posted 55 mph speed zone, according to the arrest affidavit.

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Police activated emergency lights and sirens but Smith failed to yield and continued westbound on Route 422, eventually exiting the highway at Armand Hammer Boulevard, court documents indicate. As the vehicle continued northbound Smith failed to pull over for police, authorities said.

After Smith’s vehicle crossed High Street, it traveled onto Estate Drive at a high rate of speed before being forced to come to a stop at a dead end at Estate and Burdan drives, police said. As the vehicle stopped, Smith exited the vehicle and ran away on foot. He left the vehicle in gear, causing it to roll forward, state police said.

After a brief foot chase, police apprehended Smith in the side yard of a home in the 400 block of Burdan Drive. When police retraced Smith’s path they discovered a clear bag, which contained 20 smaller bags of a white, chunky substance, discarded on the patio of a Burdan Drive home, about 20 feet from where Smith was apprehended, court documents indicate. Authorities said the substance inside the bag was crack cocaine.

When questioned by police, Smith admitted to running from police because he didn’t have a driver’s license and was in possession of the cocaine. Smith told police “he is kind of homeless and sells cocaine to make money,” according to the criminal complaint.

Other charges of fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence of alcohol, possessing cocaine and various motor vehicle violations were dismissed against Smith as part of the plea agreement.

About the Author

Carl Hessler Jr. writes about crime and justice at the Montgomery County Courthouse for The Mercury and 21st Century Media Newspaper’s Greater Philadelphia area publications. A native of Reading, he studied at Penn State University and Kutztown University before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of a National Headliner Award and has been honored for his writing by the Keystone Press Association, Philadelphia Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. Reach the author at chessler@pottsmerc.com
or follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews.